The problem with perfect

Taking unusually good care of people is a commitment to do the messy, unpredictable, and deeply personal work of engaging your humanity to help someone else.

What was I thinking?!

You are not alone. Most people are doing something that terrifies them, or are avoiding doing something that terrifies them, every single day. The fear is a constant, but maybe knowing that everyone is dealing with it will help you do your meaningful work in spite of the fear.

Taking care of people when you are powerless

Going the extra mile to take unusually good care of people matters in every interaction you have with the people you serve, but the effects are amplified when things aren’t working like they are supposed to.

Five days, five people

1. Think of five people you can encourage this week. 2. Encourage one of those five people each day this week. Don’t make it complicated, just send them a card, give them a call, go visit them, or do whatever else you deem necessary to gently encourage these five people. If you get tangled up on the part where it … Read More

This might not work

It seems presumptuous to think that we should share our ideas about business, but after being invited to give dozens of talks about these ideas it seems selfish to keep them to ourselves.

The best is yet to come

10 years, 7 months, and 9 days ago I signed a seemingly endless number of documents as a promise to make a seemingly endless number of payments, all so I could take ownership of half of a printing company.

Should you stay or should you go?

Whether it’s best to break up or stay together depends on the relationship. (Or the job, or the partnership, or the blog, or the non-profit, or the…) Quitting when things are difficult is an obvious choice. So is refusing to quit when things are easy. What’s less obvious is doing the opposite of the thing that seems natural because you … Read More

Are you playing it safe?

On a recent trip to a Phoenix water park I spent some time watching my 8 year old daughter gleefully jumping over the small swells near the edge of the wave pool. She was having so much fun, but I was struck by how many of us do something similar in our work and relationships. We stay at the edges, … Read More

It’s them, but it’s also you

You know that one person who drives you crazy? Yeah, that one. 

 I’m guessing that you know at least one person who, for personal or professional reasons, you have to endure. It’s a strained relationship at best, and maybe it really is their fault, but if you are going to have to work, live, or play together then you … Read More

The business case for being a decent person

You don’t need a business case for being a decent person. Just be a decent person. You don’t need a business case for being trustworthy, kind, thankful, helpful, caring, or any of the other parts of being a decent person. If being a decent person is a professional liability…then it’s time to find a new profession.

The cost of procrastination

Yesterday I spent 10 minutes completing a project I’ve been putting off for 3 years. And it felt awesome. The thing they don’t tell you about procrastination is that the work you are putting off weighs on you. Bit by bit the projects that you will tackle “tomorrow” sap your ability to conceive new and even more wonderful work because … Read More

Alone versus lonely

Being alone and feeling lonely are two very different things. To be alone is to be physically separated from other people. I am here, you are there. To be lonely is to feel separated from other people regardless of proximity. I am here, you are here, but there is no connection. People can be very alone without ever feeling lonely…and … Read More

When in doubt, take unusually good care of people

You will find yourself at a crossroads at some point this week. In the coming days you will be faced with a choice between doing what is easy/expedient/personally advantageous and doing what is best for a spouse, a customer, a friend, or a perfect stranger in line at the grocery store. When faced with this choice you may be unsure … Read More

You can always opt-out

Many of us are so afraid of being excluded by others that we don’t recognize the benefit of choosing to exclude ourselves from things like toxic relationships, petty gossip, unhealthy romantic entanglements, guilt trips, and sketchy business deals. From what do you need to exclude yourself this week?

Thank you for making the bed

Today marks 18 years of marriage for my wife and I. It has been a wonderful, challenging, complicated, hilarious journey thus far and I wanted to share something I’ve learned in the past year that I hope will help you. It’s embarrassing that it took me more than 17 years to pick up on the following pattern, but most of … Read More